HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Meeting - Council - Minutes - 07/07/1998 Kent, Washington
July 7, 1998
Regular meeting of the Kent City Council was called to order at
7 : 00 p.m. by Mayor White. Present: Councilmembers Amodt,
Brotherton, Clark, Epperly, Orr, Woods, and Yingling, Operations
Director/Chief of Staff McFall, City Attorney Lubovich, Fire Chief
Angelo, Police Chief Crawford, Planning Director Harris, Public
Works Director Wickstrom, Parks Director Hodgson, Employee
Services Director Viseth, and Acting Finance Director Hillman.
Approximately 30 people were in attendance at the meeting.
PUBLIC Employee of the Month. Mayor White announced
COMMUNICATIONS that Becky Fowler of the Employee Services
Department has been selected as Employee of the
Month for July. He noted that Ms. Fowler is
responsible for coordinating benefits to City
employees and their families and has managed
recruitment needs for the City. He added that
she is a staunch supporter of the Wellness
Committee.
Employee Services Director Viseth commended
Fowler on her work, thanked her for her efforts,
and said she is proud to have her on the team.
The Mayor then presented Ms. Fowler with the
Employee of the Month plaque.
Rent Downtown Partnership Presentation. Linda
Johnson explained that the Kent Downtown
Partnership has undertaken a tile project to
raise funds to be used to develop the barn for
the Kent Market. She presented the first tile to
the Mayor and Council and thanked them for their
support. She noted that tiles will go on sale
this weekend at Cornucopia Days and that prices
are $50 for an individual, $75 for a family, $100
for a business, and that businesses can add their
logo for an additional fee.
Recreation and Parks Month. Mayor White read a
proclamation noting that parks and recreation
services contribute to the overall quality of
life of a community, enhance the desirability of
locations for families and businesses, and
stimulate tourism to increase a total community
economic development model. He declared July
1998 as Recreation and Parks Month in the City of
Kent and encouraged citizens to join in the
nationwide celebration. The proclamation was
presented to Parks Director Hodgson, who invited
the public to participate in the many parks
activities being offered this summer.
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Kent City Council Minutes July 7, 1998
CONSENT ORR MOVED to approve Consent Calendar Items A
CALENDAR through P with the exception of Item K which was
removed, and including Item N as amended. Woods
seconded and the motion carried.
MINUTES (CONSENT CALENDAR - ITEM 3A)
Approval of Minutes. Approval of the minutes of
the regular Council meeting of June 16, 1998, and
correction of the minutes of the regular meeting
of June 2 , 1998 regarding the property address
for Rhododendron Estates Preliminary Plat as
follows:
15809 124th Avenue SE should read 25809 124th
Avenue SE.
TRAFFIC (CONSENT CALENDAR - ITEM 3K)
(REMOVED BY COUNCIL PRESIDENT ORR)
Traffic and Motor Vehicles Code Amendment. The
Model Traffic Ordinance, a comprehensive collec-
tion of traffic laws, was designed to be adopted
by municipalities in the State of Washington for
the consistent enforcement of traffic laws
throughout the State. The proposed emergency
ordinance readopts an updated version of the
Model Traffic Ordinance. It also adopts numerous
state laws, and repeals provisions of the City
Code which duplicate the state laws that are
adopted. The proposed emergency ordinance also
amends certain criminal charges to traffic
infractions, and amends the fines for certain
traffic infractions.
City Attorney Lubovich explained two minor
changes to the proposed ordinance. The first
change deletes language regarding riding
bicycles, skateboards, skates, and in-line skates
on the sidewalks of the downtown district and on
the City Hall campus from the title of the
ordinance. He noted that there is information
relating to this which should be taken back to
committee.
Lubovich noted that the second change relates to
public disturbances and was discussed at com-
mittee. He explained that it relates to noise
from internal combustion engines and that the
provision "so as to be audible at a distance
greater than fifty (50) feet from the real pro-
perty from which the noise is emanating" is
unenforceable. He advised going back to the
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Kent City Council Minutes July 7, 1998
TRAFFIC original language which is "so as to unreasonably
disturb or interfere with the peace, comfort and
repose of owners or possessors of real property. "
ORR MOVED to adopt Ordinance No. 3408 relating to
the Model Traffic Ordinance with the deletion of
a reference to a new section and with the lan-
guage offered by the City Attorney regarding the
starting of combustion engines. Woods seconded
and the motion carried.
STREETS (CONSENT CALENDAR - ITEM 3P)
196th Street Corridor - Middle Lea. ADOPTION of
Ordinance No. 3411, relating to eminent domain
proceedings for the 196th Street Corridor.
The City plans to contract with the Western
Processing Trust to construct an earthen embank-
ment fill on a portion of the Western Processing
site as part of the 196th Street Corridor
Project. This ordinance allows the City
Attorney' s Office to condemn the necessary
property rights from the site' s legal owner in
order to complete this work.
(BIDS - ITEM 5B)
S. 1961Russell Road Improvements. The bid
opening for this project was held on July 2 ,
1998 . Public Works Director Wickstrom explained
that seven bids were received and that the
apparent low bid was from Scarsella Bros. , Inc.
in the amount of $2 , 491, 790. 16. He asked that
the Mayor be authorized to reject all bids,
subject to his and TIB' s concurrence. He pointed
out that between this project and the other
project on tonight' s agenda, the City will have
awarded $16, 000, 000 in construction this year,
with $5-6, 000, 000 more to go.
CLARK MOVED that the Mayor be authorized to
either award the construction contract for S.
196th Russell Road Improvement to the most
satisfactory and responsible bidder, or to reject
all bids, upon concurrence by the Public Works
Director and the Transportation Improvement
Board. Woods seconded and the motion carried.
PUBLIC WORKS (CONSENT CALENDAR - ITEM 3L)
Interurban Trail Signals. ACCEPT the Interurban
Trail Signals contract and release retainage to
Signal Electric, Inc. upon standard releases from
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Kent City Council Minutes July 7, 1998
PUBLIC WORKS the State and release of any liens, as recom-
mended by the Public Works Director. The
original contract amount was $95, 953 . 00. The
final construction cost was $100, 679. 50.
(BIDS - ITEM 5A)
Green River Enhancement. The bid opening for
this project was held on June 30th with ten bids
received. The apparent low bid was submitted by
Gaston Excavating in the amount of $492,872 . 96.
The Engineer's estimate was $484, 627. 50. The
Public Works Director recommends that upon his
concurrence, the Mayor be authorized to either
award the Green River Enhancement contract to the
most satisfactory responsible bidder or to reject
all bids.
Wickstrom noted that this project is not a part
of the lagoon conversion project, but is asso-
ciated with the 277th corridor. He explained
that enhancements are being made along the river
bank and that a trail is being built for which an
agreement with King County is necessary. He
noted that the area should be open by the end of
the summer.
CLARK MOVED that upon concurrence by the Public
Works Director, the Mayor be authorized to either
award the Green River Enhancement contract to the
lowest satisfactory responsible bidder or to
reject all bids. Woods seconded and the motion
carried.
COMMUTER RAIL (OTHER BUSINESS - ITEM 4C)
(ADDED BY JAN REDDING)
Commuter Rail. Jan Redding, 9511 S. 207th Place,
Kent, noted that Sound Transit had recently
selected the north site for a commuter rail
station and that the City Council subsequently
voted to appeal that decision. She said that a
petition containing over 1200 signatures indicat-
ing that the Council did the right thing in
appealing that decision will be delivered to the
Citizens Oversight Committee tonight, and
provided copies for the Councilmembers. She
stated that citizens appreciate the fact that the
Council hears them and represents them.
SHORELINE (CONSENT CALENDAR - ITEM 3M)
MASTER PLAN Shoreline Master Program. APPROVAL of the
establishment of a budget to expend grant funds,
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Kent City Council Minutes July 7, 1998
SHORELINE received by the Department of Ecology to update
MASTER PLAN the Shoreline Master Program.
In January 1998, the City Council authorized the
Mayor to sign a grant agreement with the State
Department of Ecology to update the City's
Shoreline Master Program. A consulting firm
has been hired to assist with the project. The
Planning and Public Works Committee heard this
item on June 15, 1998, and recommended that a
budget be established to expend grant funds
received by the Department of Ecology.
ZONING CODE (CONSENT CALENDAR - ITEM 3N)
AMENDMENT Zoning Code Amendments, Phase I. ADOPTION of
Ordinance No. 3409 amending the Zoning Code as
approved by the City Council on June 16, 1998,
and as amended this date.
City Attorney Lubovich distributed copies of
revised pages 37, 38, 41 and additional page 41a
and noted that they refer to Sections
15. 04. 080 (K) and 15. 04 . 100 of the ordinance.
He explained that maps of the pedestrian overlay
of the downtown area were omitted from the Zoning
Code changes and that the new pages add the maps
and language referring to the maps.
HOUSING (CONSENT CALENDAR - ITEM 3D)
The Way Back Inn Foundation Rental Agreement
Renewal. RENEWAL of the residential agreement
with The Way Back Inn Foundation for five years
and authorization for the Mayor to sign the
residential agreement.
The City has leased the one-story house in Campus
Park to a non-profit organization, The Way Back
Inn Foundation (WBI) since July of 1993 . WBI
provides temporary housing for homeless families
with children under the age of 14 for a three-
month period while the parents work and search
for permanent housing. The Foundation has a 90%
success rate. The WBI made several improvements
to the residence at no cost to the City in the
past five years. After an inspection on
January 13 , 1998, WBI has completed all of the
urgent repairs identified by staff and has agreed
to complete the remaining items by December 31,
1998 .
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Kent City Council Minutes July 7, 1998
SCHOOL IMPACT (OTHER BUSINESS - ITEM 4A)
FEES school District Capital Facilities Plan
Amendment. On February 17, 1998, the City
Council passed Ordinance No. 3393 which extended
school impact fees for two years. On February 9,
1998, the Public Works/Planning Committee
declared an emergency and directed the Land Use
and Planning Board to consider adoption of a
Comprehensive Plan Amendment. At the May 26,
1998, meeting, the Land Use and Planning Board
held a hearing and recommended that the Capital
Facilities Plan element of the Kent Comprehensive
Plan be amended to adopt the Capital Facilities
Plans for the Kent and Federal Way School
Districts.
Sarah Bradley of the Planning Department noted
that representatives from the school districts
are in attendance. The City Attorney pointed out
that the Comprehensive Code does include a
capital facilities element for the schools, but
that it needs to be updated.
Fred High of the Kent School District explained
that the change in the plan updates the con-
struction activities, and that they are currently
using funding from a 1994 bond authorization. He
noted that there are two schools currently under
construction, and that the current single family
fee will raise approximately $69 and the multi-
family fee will drop approximately $48. Upon
Clark's question, High explained the formula for
determining the fee, and that the fees contribute
between 20 and 25% of the total cost of the
facility.
Upon Brotherton' s question about the difference
in fees between single family and multi-family,
High explained that part of the fee calculation
depends on the valuation of apartments and single
family homes, and that the price of single family
homes has increased far more than multi-family.
He noted for Clark that the school district and
the real estate community work closely together
and hope to find a way to reduce the cost of
school construction itself, which is a prime
ingredient in reducing the size of the fees.
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Kent City Council Minutes July 7, 1998
SCHOOL IMPACT Geri Walker of the Federal Way School District
FEES stated that they do not have anything under
construction at this time, but that they are
experiencing growth. She explained that they are
doing a study and survey which may change the way
in which their capacity is figured, in that they
are looking at changing grade configurations.
She added that there are two year-round schools,
but that they are not increasing their capacity.
CLARK MOVED to approve the Land Use and Planning
Board's recommendation that the Capital Facili-
ties Element of the Kent Comprehensive Plan be
amended to adopt by reference the Capital
Facilities Plan for the Kent and Federal Way
School Districts and to direct the City Attorney
to draft the appropriate ordinances to implement
these changes to the school impact fee program.
Orr seconded and the motion carried.
SATURDAY MARKET (CONSENT CALENDAR - ITEM 3E)
Saturday Market Payoff and Budget Change.
AUTHORIZATION to pay the short term Saturday
Market loan of $524 , 777 . 49 to the Equipment
Rental fund, to transfer title for the 212th
Railroad Avenue land and building, to transfer
the remodeling cash balance of $191, 350. 63 to the
Public Development Authority as approved by
Council on March 3 , 1998, and to authorize a
budget of $524, 778 to be funded with a transfer
of $392 , 000 from existing projects and the
balance of $132 , 778 from CIP undesignated fund
balance, as recommended by the Operations
Committee at their June 16, 1998 meeting.
PUBLIC SAFETY (CONSENT CALENDAR - ITEM 3H)
Property Forfeiture And Disposal Code Amendments.
ADOPTION of Ordinance No. 3405 which establishes
a new Chapter of the Public Safety Code which
sets forth procedures for seizing, forfeiting,
and disposing unclaimed evidence seized during
the investigation of crimes, firearms which are
used during the commission of a crime, and pro-
perty that is associated with or obtained through
illegal drug transactions. This ordinance adopts
numerous state laws, and repeals provisions of
the City code which duplicate the state laws that
are adopted.
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Kent City Council Minutes July 7, 1998
CRIMINAL CODE (CONSENT CALENDAR - ITEM 3J)
Criminal Code Amendments. ADOPTION of Ordinance
No. 3407 amending portions of Section 9. 02 of
the Kent City Code. RCW 39. 34 . 180 requires
cities such as the City of Kent to prosecute all
misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor offenses. In
order to prosecute offenses that are violations
of State law, the City must adopt those laws into
its code. This ordinance adopts numerous state
laws, and repeals provisions of the City code
which duplicate the state laws that are adopted.
The ordinance will also permit a Police Officer
or Judge to remove a person from a park or other
public facility when that person commits a crime
at the park or facility that threatens the health
or safety of others.
FIRE DEPARTMENT (CONSENT CALENDAR - ITEM 30)
Fire Code Amendments. ADOPTION of Ordinance
No. 3410 amending Kent City Code Chapter 13 . 02
Fire Codes and adopting the current edition of
the Uniform Fire Code.
PARKS (CONSENT CALENDAR - ITEM 3C)
DEPARTMENT Salt Air Vista Park Agreement Amendment. ACCEPT
$1, 524 from Dwane Ott for Condition 2 from the
26th Place South Street Vacation Agreement and
amend the Salt Air Vista Park budget.
On May 2 , 1995, Council approved an application
from Dwane L. Ott to vacate a portion of 26th
Place South at Salt Air Vista Park. The agree-
ment allowed Mr. Ott to cut in a trail at the
park, which is adjacent to his property. The
trail work has not been completed to date,
therefore the Parks Department is seeking
approval to revert to the original "Condition 2"
of the agreement, which is payment of cash for
the vacated right-of-way. Parks staff has agreed
to payment of $1, 524 in lieu of the trail
improvements.
(CONSENT CALENDAR - ITEM 3F)
Parks Maintenance Replacement Tractor Budget
Change. APPROVAL of a budget change of $40,824
to purchase a replacement Parks Maintenance 545C
tractor, as recommended by the Operations
Committee at their June 16, 1998 meeting.
Equipment Reserve funds of $33 , 324 will be used,
with the balance of $7, 500 coming from the
General Fund Fund balance.
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Kent City Council Minutes July 7, 1998
PARKS (CONSENT CALENDAR - ITEM 3I)
DEPARTMENT Parks And Recreation Code Amendments. ADOPTION
of Ordinance No. 3406 relating to towing un-
authorized vehicles remaining in a park after
hours. The proposed amendment to Kent City Code
4. 01. 080 permits a Police Officer to order an
unauthorized vehicle to be towed from a park when
that vehicle remains in a park after the hours of
operation.
(OTHER BUSINESS - ITEM 4B)
Gunther Family Trust Property. The Gunther
Family Trust offered to donate a piece of pro-
perty located adjacent to the south property line
of Lake Fenwick Park. The property is valued at
$50, 000 and will be a useful addition to Lake
Fenwick park. The City will be required to pay
only closing fees and title insurance in the
amount of $885.
WOODS MOVED to accept the property located south
of Lake Fenwick donated by the Gunther Family,
and to compensate the Gunther Family Trust $885
for closing costs and title insurance. Orr
seconded and the motion carried.
COUNCIL (CONSENT CALENDAR - ITEM 3G)
Excused Absence For Councilmember Clark.
APPROVAL of an excused absence from the July 21,
1998 City Council meeting for Councilmember Tim
Clark. He will be unable to attend.
FINANCE (CONSENT CALENDAR - ITEM 3B)
Approval of Bills. APPROVAL of payment of the
bills received through June 15 and paid on
June 15, 1998 , after auditing by the Operations
Committee on June 16, 1998 .
Approval of checks issued for vouchers:
Date Check Numbers Amount
6/15/98 201091-201564 $ 617,593 . 07
6/15/98 201565-201946 1,997 ,421.53
$2 , 615, 014. 60
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Kent City Council Minutes July 7, 1998
FINANCE Approval of checks issued for Payroll for May 16
through May 31, 1998, and paid on June 5, 1998 :
Date Check Numbers Amount
6/5/98 Checks 227933-228269 $ 246,553 . 64
6/5/98 Advices 66476-67018 741,464.80
$ 988, 018.44
REPORTS Council President. Orr asked Councilmembers to
RSVP to Ms. Banister as soon as possible re-
garding attendance at the Meeker Street Law
Building Open House.
Operations Committee. Woods noted that the
Committee will meet on Tuesday, July 21st at
3 : 30.
Parks Committee. Woods noted that the next
Committee meeting will be at 4 : 30 p.m. on
July 21st.
Woods reported that the July 4th event with the
Seattle Symphony at Lake Meridian was a wonderful
occasion and that she will be proposing an
increased amount of money in the budget for next
year' s celebration.
Administrative Reports. McFall announced that
the Municipal Court has moved to their new
location.
McFall noted that the Public Development
Authority has held two meetings and is working
toward opening the Market next summer.
EXECUTIVE At 7: 45 p.m. , the meeting recessed into an
SESSION executive session of approximately 30 minutes.
ADJOURNMENT The meeting reconvened and adjourned at 8 : 12 p.m.
Brenda Jacober, CMC
City Clerk
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